Iceman plays key role in new Afghan Army facility

  • Published
  • By Petty Officer First Class David Votroubek
  • Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan --  When Master Sgt. Mike Stoller, 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance, saw the photos of the old vehicle shop in Kabul, he was sold. Not because it was appealing, but because it looked like a challenge. He volunteered for a one-year tour, working as a mentor with the Afghan National Army Air Corps in their vehicle maintenance shop.

"I thought, 'That'd be a blast!'" he said.

When he arrived in Kabul, he found that the six Afghan mechanics supervised by Maj. Baq Mohammad of the ANA Air Corps were keeping vehicles running with little more than determination and sheer ingenuity.

They were responsible for maintaining the Air Corps' Russian-built vehicles at Kabul Air Base, but had only a few hand tools to do it. The shop itself was lit by a single bare bulb and was heated by breaking up and burning pallet. Very little maintenance could be done during the bitter Afghan winters.

"Aircraft on the ramp would blow away the plastic covering the windows and we'd have to go put it back up," Sergeant Stoller said.

The mechanics themselves didn't fair much better. Some had only sandals to wear in cold weather, so Sergeant Stoller gave them his own new boots.

As part of the coalition's plan to revitalize the ANA Air Corps, a decision was made to build a new maintenance facility for their ground vehicles. The new $4 million shop is now located away from the flightline, which frees up more space for aircraft. The metal building has five stalls, making it much larger than the mud-brick building it replaces. It can accommodate any Air Corps vehicle and has additional parking space as well.

Sergeant Stoller was also funded to buy $40,000 worth of tools and equipment for the new shop. To get them faster and cheaper, he went into downtown Kabul to buy some of the equipment. The shop is equipped with a pit to be able to do oil changes, a tow tractor and portable crane to move vehicles, and tire-mounting equipment. Maintenance will now be tracked by a computer database, which should help to extend the service life of the vehicles.

The mechanics show off their new tools with obvious pride. Although Major Mohammad has worked for the ANA for 24 years, he'd never seen multi-meters, battery testers or puller sets until now.

"Before, we had nothing," he said. "Now we have everything. We can fix all vehicles here."

In the past, even routine maintenance had to be outsourced to contractors for lack of tools. Not any more.

"We don't need to send our vehicles anywhere," added Sgt. Ahmad Ali, the chief mechanic.

Building the shop ran three months behind schedule and Sergeant Stoller had to urge the mechanics to be patient.

A minefield first needed to be cleared to build it. Their patience and hard work has paid off for them.

"Sergeant Stoller is hard-working," ANA Fire Chief Maj. Razudin said.

The new facility meets and exceeds all of their expectations, including Sergeant Stoller's. It was a challenge and the challenge was met.